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Rabbanit Sharon Rimon
WHY IS COHNARNOA’SSHPRHAAYESRHTAHNEAHHA?FTARAH
O n the first day of Rosh Of course, we can ask G-d to bless us destiny. It is all in His hands. When
Hashanah we read the story with abundance and a good life. But we come in prayer before G-d, and
of Chana. Why was this what is the deeper aim of our requests? particularly at this time of year, we feel
Haftarah chosen? Our Sages attributed Chana teaches us that our prayers should just how dependent we are on Him.
huge importance to Chana’s prayer. be aligned with our service of G-d
The Talmud in Berachot 29a says that rather than to achieve our own personal In summary, we learn from Chana that
because the name of G-d appears nine comfort.
times in Chana’s prayer, we say nine 1. A prerequisite for prayer is our
blessings in the Musaf Amidah on Rosh "Secondly, how many times do we pray commitment to become better
Hashanah. for something, cry and plead, yet when people in some way.
Chana’s prayer, one woman’s prayer,
determines the prayers for the entire One woman’s prayer 2. We must examine the aim of our
Jewish people! Apart from that, we determines the prayers for request and not just the request
derive many of the laws of prayer from the entire Jewish people itself. It cannot be just for our own
Chana.1 pleasure but to add good to the
Let us focus on some other important our prayers are answered, do we take world, to sanctify G-d’s name.
lessons. Firstly, Chana teaches us what to the time to thank G-d? When Chana’s
ask for and the aim of the request: request is answered, she immediately 3. We should express gratitude for
“And she vowed a vow, and said… if thanks Him: “And Hannah prayed, and everything we have, and particularly
You will indeed look on the affliction of said: my heart exults… because I rejoice after our prayers are answered.
Your handmaid, and remember me… I in Your salvation.”3
will give him to G-d all the days of his And another thing Chana teaches us is 4. We should include all Jews in our
life…”2 that we should include the entire Jewish prayers. That is why the blessings in
Her request comes with a vow. people in our prayers, finishing her the Amidah are in the plural. Even if
Sometimes we ask G-d for things but prayer with the words, “And He will give we ourselves need good health or a
don’t offer Him anything in return. We strength unto His king, and exalt the job, we pray for the same thing for
don’t commit to doing anything. Chana horn of His anointed.”4 the rest of our people too.
makes a vow, and that vow is connected Apart from these fundamental elements,
to the request she makes. Chana is Chana emphasizes another key motif Chana’s prayer sharpens our awareness
not just asking for a free lunch. She is which is also central to Rosh Hashanah: of G-d’s absolute control of the world.
prepared to earn it. “G-d kills, and makes alive… brings We are not in control. We act, we work,
And the request itself ? She asks for a down to the grave, and brings up… we build, but G-d is behind us, pulling
son, something she wants so much, yet makes poor, and makes rich… brings the strings and making sure it all works
she immediately promises to dedicate low, lifts up...”5 out for the good.
him to G-d. From here we learn that Chana expresses G-d’s control over
the aim of our requests should not be the world; His ability to change human 1 See Berachot 24b and other places.
egotistical (so he’ll help me/ so I can be 2 Samuel 1, 1:11.
happy/ so the family will continue…), 3 Ibid. 2:1.
but rather that we use what we have for 4 Ibid. 2:10.
the service of G-d. 5 Ibid. 2:6-8.
Rabbanit Sharon Rimon teaches Tanach
and is Content Editor for the Herzog
Tanach website: www.hatanakh.com/en
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